Anakkulam cultural centre to be opened soon

KOZHIKODE: The newly constructed Anakkulam cultural centre in the city will be opened to the public after the monsoon. The construction of the cultural centre, which started two years ago, is nearing completion.

The building based on Kerala architectural style will come up on 56 cents of land at Anakkulam.

The proposal to set up the centre was taken during the tenure of former mayor M Bhaskaran.

The three-storey centre built at an estimate cost of more than Rs 4 crore has two halls for drama rehearsals, two halls to practise general art forms, a conference hall and a library.

The building also hosts two traditional temple theatres -- 'koothupuras' to perform arts.

There will be an amphitheatre with a capacity to accommodate 350 people at a time. It will also have space to stage programmes and interactive sessions. The centre will also have two VIP rooms, bathroom and toilet facility at the centre. There will also be dormitory facility to allow the artists to take rest and stay after the performance.

The civic body has prepared a proposal to widen the width of the entry gate of the centre to 7m from the existing 3.6m. With the opening of the centre, the artists who have been complaining of dearth of space to carry out demonstration and training classes will get a permanent location in the heart of the city to conduct their programmes. At present, the artists have been depending on the halls at schools to carry out various demonstration programmes.

Corporation assistant executive engineer C Chandran said that the work is in the final phase.

"The construction of the three-storey building has already been completed. Now beautification of the area has been progressing, which will be completed soon,'' he said.

"We have decided to acquire land for the widening of the entry gate which will be carried out once gets approval for the submitted proposal,'' he said.